“Your money, Willow. You’re getting married. Which means your inheritance will be released.”
Chills run down my spine and I shake my head. “No, no, I don’t think this counts. I’d have to—” I try to think of the stipulations. And I can’t think of any. “Surely there has to be some kind of provision that I’d need to stay married for—no, it doesn’t matter. I’ve made up my mind. I’m waiting.”
She laughs. “Willow, what is the matter with you? Just ask Dallas to stay married for however long it is and that’s it.”
My eyes bulge. “No. No, I’m not even contacting the lawyer about it. I’ll wait until I’m twenty-eight. This is to helphim and Ellie, not me.”
“Why can’t it be both?”
I try to think of a valid reason, knowing Rose won’t drop it until she gets one. “I know this won’t make sense, but I chose to stay for a father and a little girl who’s been kept from him her whole life. For a chance for them to be together. Dallas is a good man—he deserves this time with her, to raise her. To catch up on the relationship they should have been building all along. Taking this money would feel like .?.?. cheating myself—cheating my grandmother. I won’t do it.”
Rose leans back with a breath. “Wow, I never looked at it that way. I’m sorry.”
“No, please don’t be. I guess I’ve kind of set my mind about it in my head, so I haven’t even considered claiming my grandmother’s money.”
“So I take it you’ll be keeping this wedding a secret from your mother? Because once that woman finds out—”
I sigh. “Noah asked about family—to make it look as real as possible.”
Rose winces. “I doubt she’ll see your view on this.”
“She’s going to have to.”
Rose glances back as the brothers’ laughter carries through the door.
She turns back to me. “I know it feels like you’re failing if you give in. Like it’s some endless cycle of falling in love and getting hurt that you’re trapped in.”
My heart sinks. Way to hit it on the nose.
“And while I’m proud of you for choosing you first .?.?. I’m afraid you might miss out on what could be your happiest years.”
I want to burst into tears, because I know she’s right. And I felt it in an overwhelming wave when he kissed me tonight. The way he stood by my side, burning with protection. The way our hands found each other’s when our eyes were on the crowd. The way he held my gaze, searched my eyes when I was spiraling over the possibility of losing Ellie.
Idowant him.
More than I should.
And much more than I can help.
Everything in me is ready to let go and give in. But my best friend is forgetting one frightfully important thing here.
“Rose.” My voice cracks. “I can’t fall for a man who still belongs to someone else.”
I hear Dallas downstairs as he shuts the front door after walking our guests out. I sit back on the soft pink velvet chair in Ellie’s room—where I escaped after saying goodnight to everyone.
Admitting I want him wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be. It’s what came directly after that packed the bigger punch.
Can I really have him?
And am I willing to risk getting hurt finding out?
My heart pounds when I hear him coming up the stairs and down the hall. Stopping somewhere near my room, then making his way down to Ellie’s. The door creaks open slowly. And he finds me on the other side of her nightlight.
I look up at him, feeling restless. “I don’t think she’s moved all night,” I whisper.
A grin slips out with a soft exhale. “She had quite an exciting night.”
I watch her breathing, the glow of her skin in the soft light. “I didn’t like all those people pinching her cheeks and playing with her curls.”
